Lettuce variety nun 06075 ltl

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to plants of a lettuce variety NUN 06075 LTL (also referred to as “NUN 06075” or “06075” or “NUN 06075 LTL) and, seeds and progeny thereof. The invention further relates to methods for producing a lettuce plant by traditional breeding methods. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for producing a lettuce plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of plant breeding. Inparticular, the invention provides for a new and distinct variety oflettuce designated NUN 06075 LTL (or “NUN 06075” or “06075” or “NUN06075 LT” or NUN 6075 or NUN 6075 LTL).

All cultivated forms of lettuce belong to the highly polymorphic speciesLactuca sativa that is grown for its edible head and leaves. Lactucasativa is in the Cichoreae tribe of the Asteraceae (Compositae) family.Lettuce is related to chicory, sunflower, aster, dandelion, artichokeand chrysanthemum. L. sativa is one of about 300 species in the genusLactuca.

Fresh lettuce is available in the United States year-round although thegreatest supply is from May through October. For planting purposes, thelettuce season is typically divided into three categories, early, midand late, with the coastal areas planting from January to August, andthe desert regions planting from August to December. Fresh lettuce isconsumed nearly exclusively as fresh, raw product and occasionally as acooked vegetable.

The development of commercial lettuce cultivars requires the developmentof lettuce varieties, the crossing of these varieties, and theevaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selectionbreeding methods are used to develop cultivars from breedingpopulations. Breeding programs combine desirable traits from two or morevarieties or various broad-based sources into breeding pools from whichcultivars are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes.The new cultivars are crossed with other varieties and the hybrids fromthese crosses are evaluated to determine which have commercialpotential.

Lifestyles change and the demand from restaurants and catering firms forcolorful and interesting garnish for sandwiches and ready-to-useprocessed salads continue to rise. As a result, there is a demand forbreeding companies to develop new varieties with specific shapes ofleaves, specific average size of leaves, prominent color and a widevariety of texture, as well as good yield.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides for a new Cos/Romaine lettuce variety designatedNUN 06075 LTL, representative seed of said variety having been depositedunder Accession Number NCIMB ______, and plant parts of the new varietysuch as (harvested) leaves, or parts of the leaves. Non-limitingexamples for parts of said plant are microspore, pollen, ovary, ovule,flower, stalk, leaf, head, shoot, shoot tip, seed, embryo, embryo sac,cutting, root, root tip, pistil, anther, cotyledon, hypocotyl,meristematic cell, stem, cell, in vitro cell cultures or tissuecultures, protoplast, meristem, fruit, petiole, bud or parts of any ofthese such as parts of leaves. In some embodiments, parts of a lettuceplant designated NUN 06075 LTL are provided which are suitable forsexual reproduction or vegetative reproduction, or a tissue culture orcell culture of a lettuce plant designated NUN 06075 LTL is provided.

The invention also provides for seeds of the new variety, representativeseed of said variety having been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB______ or PTA ______, a plant, or a part thereof (such as a lettuce heador leaves), produced by growing said seed.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a plant which is regeneratedfrom a part of the lettuce plant designated NUN 06075 LTL that issuitable for vegetative reproduction or a plant which is regeneratedfrom a cell or tissue culture of a plant designated NUN 06075 LTL.

Also provided are one or more progeny plants (offspring or descendants)of a lettuce plant designated NUN 06075 LTL obtained by further breedingwith said variety designated NUN 06075 LTL. Said progeny plant(s)has/have essentially all physiological and morphological characteristicsof variety NUN 06075 LTL when grown under the same environmentalconditions. In one embodiment, said progeny plant(s) has/have (see USDAcriteria) black (grey brown) seed; an elongated shape of fourth leaf; a(average) length/width index of fourth leaf (L/W×10) that is at leastabout 20, or preferably at least 21, 22, 23, or even about 24; acoarsely dentate basal margin of fourth leaf; a slight undulation offourth leaf; a medium green colored fourth leaf, e.g. RHS Green 138A; anabsent/slight undulation of the apical margin of mature leaves; a mediumcolored mature leaves, e.g. RHS Green 137C; dull (like varietyVanguard), intermediate thick mature leaves with absent/slightblistering (e.g. like variety Salinas); an (average) spread of frameleaves that is at least about 15 cm, or preferably at least 16 cm, 17cm, 18 cm, 19 cm, 20 cm, 21 cm, 22 cm, or even about 22.6 cm; a mediumsized head; an (average) head weight that is at least about 475 g, orpreferably at least about 480 g, 490 g, 500 g, 510 g, 520 g, 530 g, oreven about 535 g; an (average) core diameter at base of head that is atleast about 20 mm, or preferably at least about 21 mm, 22 mm, 23 mm, 24mm, 25 mm, 26 mm, 27 mm, 28 mm, or even about 28.2 mm.

Moreover, also an Essentially Derived Variety (EDV) of a lettuce plantdesignated NUN 06075 LTL is provided, e.g., an Essentially DerivedVariety of NUN 06075 LTL having one or two physiological and/ormorphological characteristics which are different from those of NUN06075 LTL and which otherwise has essentially all physiological andmorphological characteristics when grown under the same environmentalconditions of a lettuce plant designated NUN 06075 LTL obtainable byselecting a natural or induced mutant, or a somaclonal variant from apopulation of plants designated NUN 06075 LTL.

In another aspect the invention refers to packages, e.g., a container, abag and the like, comprising at least one of the following: seeds orseed pellets of lettuce variety designated NUN 06075 LTL, lettuceplant(s) designated NUN 06075 LTL, parts thereof (e.g. heads or looseleaves), progeny of a lettuce plant designated NUN 06075 LTL, partsthereof, EDV of a plant designated NUN 06075 LTL or parts thereof.

Also provided is a food or feed product comprising at least a part of alettuce plant designated NUN 06075 LTL, progeny thereof or a EDVthereof.

In further aspects, the invention provides methods of producing alettuce plant, comprising crossing a lettuce plant designated NUN 06075LTL with a second lettuce plant one or more times and/or selfing thelettuce plant designated NUN 06075 LTL one or more times, and selectingprogeny from said crossing and/or selfing.

Also provided is a method of producing a lettuce plant derived from NUN06075 LTL comprising the steps of:

-   -   (a) preparing a progeny plant derived from NUN 06075 LTL by        crossing the plant designated NUN 06075 LTL with itself or with        a second lettuce plant;    -   (b) crossing the progeny plant with itself or a second lettuce        plant to produce a seed of a progeny plant of a subsequent        generation; and optionally    -   (c) growing a progeny plant of a subsequent generation from said        seed and crossing the progeny plant of a subsequent generation        with itself or a second lettuce plant; and optionally    -   (d) repeating step b) and/or c) for at least one more generation        to produce a lettuce plant derived from NUN 06075 LTL.        As mentioned herein, a “second lettuce plant” refers to any        lettuce plant not being NUN 06075 LTL. Reference to a “second        lettuce plant” as in method steps (a), (b), and (c) may refer to        different plants, i.e. different lettuce plants being used in        step (a), and/or (b), and/or (c).

In another aspect the invention provides a method of producing a hybridlettuce seed comprising crossing a first parent lettuce plant with asecond parent lettuce plant and harvesting the resultant hybrid lettuceseed, wherein said first parent lettuce plant or said second parentlettuce plant is a lettuce plant designated NUN 06075 LTL.

Also provided is hybrid lettuce seed (from which a hybrid plant can begrown) produced from crossing a first parent lettuce plant with a secondparent lettuce plant and harvesting the resultant hybrid lettuce seed,wherein said first parent lettuce plant or said second parent lettuceplant is a plant designated NUN 06075 LTL. Moreover, also provided arehybrid lettuce plants which are grown from a hybrid lettuce seed whereofone parent is a plant designated NUN 06075 LTL.

In another aspect the invention provides a method of introducing asingle locus conversion into a plant designated NUN 06075 LTL,representative seed of which having been deposited under AccessionNumber NCIMB ______ or PTA ______, comprising

-   -   (a) crossing a plant designated NUN 06075 LTL with a second        plant comprising a desired single locus to produce an F₁ progeny        plant;    -   (b) optionally selfing said F₁ progeny plant to produce an F₂        progeny plant having said single locus;    -   (c) crossing said F₁ or F₂ progeny plant of step (a) or step        (b), respectively, with a plant of NUN 06075 LTL, representative        seed of which having been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB        ______ or PTA ______, to produce backcross progeny plants;    -   (d) selecting backcross progeny plants that have the single        locus and otherwise essentially all physiological and        morphological characteristics when grown under the same        environmental conditions of a plant designated NUN 06075 LTL;        and optionally    -   (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) one or more times in succession        to produce selected second or higher backcross progeny plants        that comprise the single locus and otherwise comprise        essentially all physiological and morphological characteristics        when grown under the same environmental conditions of a plant        designated NUN 06075 LTL.

In one embodiment, said single locus confers a trait, wherein the traitis pest resistance or disease resistance such as resistance againstNasonovia ribisnigri NR:0 or resistance against Nasonovia ribisnigriNR:1. Further pest or disease resistances are, e.g., resistance againstdowny mildew, e.g., at least one race selected from the group consistingof races B1:1 to 28 and other known Bremia lactucae races, Sclerotiniarot, Botrytis, powdery mildew, anthracnose, bottom rot, corky root rot,lettuce mosaic virus, big vein, lettuce aphid, beet western yellows andaster yellows, Sclerotinia minor (leaf drop), Sclerotinia sclerotiorum(leaf drop), Rhizoctonia solani (bottom drop), Erysiphe cichoracearum(powdery mildew), Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae (Fusarium wilt),lettuce infectious yellows virus (LIYV), lettuce mosaic virus (LMV),Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Beet western yellows virus (BWYV), andAlfalfa mosaic virus (AMV).

In another embodiment the trait conferred by said single locus isanother trait, such as a morphological or physiological trait, herbicideresistance, stress tolerance or stress resistance (e.g. droughttolerance), enhanced yield, etc.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a method of producingtransgenic progeny of a plant designated NUN 06075 LTL wherein saidprogeny has at least the essential physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics when grown under the same environmental conditions ofthe variety designated NUN 06075 LTL and further comprises a desiredtrait, said method comprising transforming a NUN 06075 LTL plant with atleast one transgene that confers said desired trait or crossing a plantdesignated NUN 06075 LTL with a lettuce plant comprising said desiredtrait so that the genetic material of the progeny that results from thecross contains the transgene(s). Moreover, also transgenic plantsproduced by this method are provided herewith.

GENERAL DEFINITIONS

All patent and non-patent literatures cited herein are incorporated byreference in their entireties.

“Lettuce” refers herein to plants of the species Lactuca sativa L.

The terms “NUN 06075 LTL”, “lettuce plant designated NUN 06075”, “NUN06075” or “variety designated NUN 06075 LTL” refer to a lettuceplant/variety of lettuce, representative seed of which having beendeposited under Accession Number NCIMB ______ or PTA ______.

“USDA descriptors” are the plant variety descriptors described forlettuce in the “Objective description of Variety Lettuce (Lactuca sativaL.)”, ST-470-1 (dated Jul. 1, 2009) as published by U.S. Department ofAgriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, Science and Technology,Plant Variety Protection Office, Beltsville, Md. 20705 (available on theworld wide web at .ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/) and which can be downloadedfrom the world wide web at.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=stelprdc5069208.

“UPOV descriptors” are the plant variety descriptors described forlettuce in the “Guidelines for the Conduct of Tests for Distinctness,Uniformity and Stability,” TG/013/10 (Geneva 2006), as published by UPOV(International Union for the Protection of New Varieties and Plants,available on the world wide web at upov.int)upov.int/en/publications/tg_rom/tg_index.html. Likewise, “UPOV methods”to determine specific parameters for the characterization of lettuce aredescribed at upov.int.

“RHS” refers to the Royal Horticultural Society of England whichpublishes an official botanical color chart quantitatively identifyingcolors according to a defined numbering system, The chart may bepurchased from Royal Horticulture Society Enterprise Ltd RHS Garden;Wisley, Woking; Surrey GU236QB, UK, e.g., the RHS colour chart: 2007(The Royal Horticultural Society, charity No: 222879, PO Box 313 LondonSW1P2PE; sold by, e.g., TORSO-VERLAG, Obere Grüben 8•D-97877 Wertheim,Article-No.: Art62-00008 EAN-Nr.: 4250193402112).

As used herein, the term “plant” includes the whole plant or any partssuch as plant organs (e.g., harvested or non-harvested leaves, etc.),plant cells, plant protoplasts, plant cell or tissue cultures from whichwhole plants can be regenerated, plant calli, plant cell clumps, planttransplants, seedlings, plant cells that are intact in plants, plantclones or micro propagations, or parts of plants (e.g., harvestedtissues or organs), such as plant cuttings, vegetative propagations,embryos, pollen, ovules, flowers, leaves, heads, seeds, clonallypropagated plants, roots, stems, stalks, root tips, grafts, parts of anyof these and the like, or derivatives thereof, preferably having thesame genetic make-up (or very similar genetic make-up) as the plant fromwhich it is obtained. Also any developmental stage is included, such asseedlings, cuttings prior or after rooting, mature and/or immatureplants or mature and/or immature leaves.

“Cotyledon” refers to one of the first leaves of the embryo of a seedplant; typically one or more in monocotyledons, two in dicotyledons andtwo or more in gymnosperms.

“Tissue Culture” refers to a composition comprising isolated cells ofthe same or a different type or a collection of such cells organizedinto parts of a plant. Tissue culture of various tissues of lettuce andregeneration of plants therefrom is well known and widely published(see, e.g., Teng et al., HortScience. 1992, 27(9): 1030-1032 Teng etal., HortScience. 1993, 28(6): 669-1671, Zhang et al., Journal ofGenetics and Breeding. 1992, 46(3): 287-290).

“Harvested plant material” refers herein to plant parts (e.g., leavesdetached from the whole plant) which have been collected for furtherstorage and/or further use.

“Harvested seeds” refers to seeds harvested from a line or variety,e.g., produced after self-fertilization or cross-fertilization andcollected.

“Head” as used herein refers to lettuce heads, i.e., the plant withoutthe root system, for example substantially all harvested leaves(although this variety is a “loose-leaf” type). Encompassed are immatureleaves (e.g. “baby leaf”) and mature leaves.

The “base” of a plant is the part of a lettuce plant where the leavesare attached to the root system of the plant.

“Core length” of the internal lettuce stem is measured from the base ofthe cut and trimmed head to the tip of the stem.

“Head weight” refers to the mean weight of saleable lettuce head, cutand trimmed to market specifications.

“Head diameter” refers to the mean diameter of the cut and trimmed head,sliced vertically, and measured at the widest point perpendicular to thestem.

“Head height” refers to the mean height of the cut and trimmed head,sliced vertically, and measured from the base of the cut stem to theleaf tip.

“Core Length to Head Diameter Ratio (CLHD Ratio)” refers to the meancore length/head diameter ratio. It is calculated by dividing the meancore length with the mean head diameter. This is an indication of thehead shape and of the ability of a lettuce plant to reduce the amount ofsurface which is on or close to the ground.

“Ground” refers to the surrounding of the aerial tissues of a lettuceplant in which it is grown, or which is placed on the growing medium(e.g. a foil covering the growing medium such as soil but which does notcover the aerial plant, e.g., there is a hole in the foil through whichthe lettuce plant is growing).

A plant having “essentially all the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics” means a plant having the physiological andmorphological characteristics as listed in Table 1 when grown under thesame environmental conditions of the plant from which it was derived,e.g. the progenitor plant, the parent, the recurrent parent, the plantused for tissue- or cell culture, etc., except for the characteristic(s)derived from a converted or introduced gene or trait. A plant having“essentially all the physiological and morphological characteristics ofNUN 06075 LTL, except one, two, three, four or five characteristics”means that the lettuce plant, when grown under the same environmentalconditions, significantly differs from NUN 06075 LTL in 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5characteristics listed in Table 1, but does not differ significantly inthe other morphological and/or physiological characteristics of NUN06075 LTL listed in Table 1.

“Distinguishing characteristics” or “distinguishing morphological and/orphysiological characteristics” refers herein the characteristics whichare distinguishing between NUN 06075 LTL and other lettuce varieties,such as Sunbelt and/or Green Towers, when grown under the sameenvironmental conditions, especially the following characteristics: 1)Frame leaf spread; 2) Core diameter at base of head; 3) length/widthindex of fourth leaf (L/W*10); 4) green color of mature leaves; 5) headweight; 6) head size class; 7) seed color, light and heat dormancy; 8)green color of fourth leaf; 9) shape of cotyledon; 10 glossiness,blistering and thickness of mature leaves; 11) days to maturity. In oneaspect, the distinguishing characteristics further include at least one,two, three or more (or all) of the characteristics listed in Table 1.Thus, a lettuce plant “comprising the distinguishing characteristics ofNUN 06075 LTL”, refers herein to a lettuce plant which does not differsignificantly from NUN 06075 LTL in characteristics 1) to 5) above. In afurther aspect the lettuce plant further does not differ significantlyfrom NUN 06075 LTL in one or more, or all characteristics 6) to 11) asmentioned above. In yet a further aspect the lettuce plant further doesnot differ in at least one, two, three, four, five or sixcharacteristics selected from the characteristics listed in Table 1.

As used herein, the term “variety” or “cultivar” means a plant groupingwithin a single botanical taxon of the lowest known rank, whichgrouping, irrespective of whether the conditions for the grant of abreeder's right are fully met, can be defined by the expression of thecharacteristics resulting from a given genotype or combination ofgenotypes, distinguished from any other plant grouping by the expressionof at least one of the said characteristics and considered as a unitwith regard to its suitability for being propagated unchanged.

“Progeny” as used herein refers to plants derived from a plantdesignated NUN 06075 LTL. Progeny may be derived by regeneration of cellculture or tissue culture or parts of a plant designated NUN 06075 LTLor selfing of a plant designated NUN 06075 LTL or by producing seeds ofa plant designated NUN 06075 LTL. In further embodiments, progeny mayalso encompass plants derived from crossing of at least one plantdesignated NUN 06075 LTL with another lettuce plant of the same oranother variety or (breeding) line, or wild Lactuca plants,backcrossing, inserting of a locus into a plant or mutation. A progenyis, e.g., a first generation progeny, i.e. the progeny is directlyderived from, obtained from, obtainable from or derivable from theparent plant by, e.g., traditional breeding methods (selfing and/orcrossing) or regeneration. However, the term “progeny” generallyencompasses further generations such as second, third fourth, fifth,sixth, seventh or more generations, i.e., generations of plants whichare derived from, obtained from, obtainable from or derivable from theformer generation by, e.g., traditional breeding methods, regenerationor genetic transformation techniques. For example, a second generationprogeny can be produced from a first generation progeny by any of themethods mentioned above.

A progeny plant may comprise the distinguishing characteristics 1 to 5or 1 to 10 of NUN 06075 LTL; and/or have essentially all physiologicaland morphological characteristics of the variety designated NUN 06075LTL when grown under the same environmental conditions.

An “Essentially Derived Variety” (EDV) shall be deemed to be essentiallyderived from another variety, “the initial variety”, under the followingcircumstances: (i) it is predominantly derived from the initial variety,or from a variety that is itself predominantly derived from the initialvariety, while retaining the expression of essentially allcharacteristics that result from the genotype or combination ofgenotypes of the initial variety; and (ii) it is clearly distinguishablefrom the initial variety (e.g., one, one or more, two, two or more,three, three or more characteristics are different from the initialvariety); and (iii) except for the differences which result from the actof derivation, it conforms to the initial variety in the expression ofthe essential characteristics that result from the genotype orcombination of genotypes of the initial variety. Thus, an EDV may beobtained for example by the selection of a natural or induced mutant, orof a somaclonal variant, the selection of a variant individual fromplants of the initial variety, backcrossing, or transformation bygenetic engineering. Such a variant may be selected at any time, e.g. inthe field or greenhouse, during breeding, during or after in vitroculture of cells or tissues, during regeneration of plants, etc.

“Plant line” is for example a breeding line which can be used to developone or more varieties.

“Hybrid” refers to the seeds harvested from crossing one plant line orvariety with another plant line or variety.

“F₁ hybrid” refers to the first generation progeny of the cross of twononisogenic plants.

“Crossing” refers to the mating of two parent plants. Equally“Cross-pollination” refers to fertilization by the union of two gametesfrom different plants.

“Backcrossing” refers to a process in which a breeder repeatedly crosseshybrid progeny, for example a first generation hybrid (F₁), back to oneof the parents of the hybrid progeny. Backcrossing can be used tointroduce one or more single locus conversions from one geneticbackground into another. The terms “gene converted” or “conversionplant” in this context refer to plants which are developed bybackcrossing wherein essentially all of the desired morphological andphysiological characteristics of an inbred are recovered in addition tothe one or more genes transferred into the inbred via the backcrossingtechnique or via genetic engineering.

“Regeneration” refers to the development of a plant from cell culture ortissue culture or vegetative propagation.

“Vegetative propagation”, “vegetative reproduction” or “clonalpropagation” are used interchangeably herein and mean the method oftaking part of a plant and allowing that plant part to form at leastroots where plant part is, e.g., defined as or derived from (e.g. bycutting of) leaf, pollen, embryo, cotyledon, hypocotyl, cells,protoplasts, meristematic cell, root, root tip, pistil, anther, flower,shoot tip, shoot, stem, fruit, and petiole. When a whole plant isregenerated by vegetative propagation, it is also referred to as avegetative propagation.

“Selfing” refers to self-pollination of a plant, i.e., the transfer ofpollen from the anther to the stigma of the same plant.

“Single Locus Converted (Conversion) Plant” refers to plants which aredeveloped by plant breeding techniques comprising or consisting ofbackcrossing, wherein essentially all of the desired morphological andphysiological characteristics of a lettuce variety are recovered inaddition to the characteristics of the single locus having beentransferred into the variety via the backcrossing technique and/or bygenetic transformation.

“Transgene” or “chimeric gene” refers to a genetic locus comprising aDNA sequence which has been introduced into the genome of a lettuceplant by transformation. A plant comprising a transgene stablyintegrated into its genome is referred to as “transgenic plant”.

“Substantially equivalent” refers to a characteristic that, whencompared, does not show a statistically significant difference (e.g.,p=0.05) from the mean.

“Average” refers herein to the arithmetic mean.

“First water date” refers to the date the seed first receives adequatemoisture to germinate. This can and often does equal the planting date.

“Maturity date” refers to the stage when the plants are of full size oroptimum weight, in marketable form or shape to be of commercial oreconomic value. This is also the time point when measuring parameters of“mature” leaves.

The term “mean” refers to the arithmetic mean of several measurements.The skilled person understands that the appearance of a plant depends tosome extent on the growing conditions of said plant. Thus, the skilledperson will know typical growing conditions for lettuce of the typesdescribed herein. The mean, if not indicated otherwise within thisapplication, refers to the arithmetic mean of measurements on at least10 different, randomly selected plants of a variety at a requireddeveloping stage (e.g., fourth leaf or mature).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides a new type of lettuce (Lactuca sativa)variety, designated NUN 06075 LTL. Lettuce variety designated NUN 06075LTL is of the Cos/Romaine Type (USDA sheet). The objective of the crosswas to develop a Cos/Romaine variety with medium green color in matureleaves.

Variety NUN 06075 LTL is most similar to the commercially availablevariety Sunbelt. However, NUN 06075 LTL differs from Sunbelt in one ormore, e.g., at least two, at least three, at least four, or more,optionally all morphological and/or physiological characteristics listedin the following (see USDA criteria and also Table 1), when grown underthe same environmental conditions:

-   -   NUN 06075 LTL requires light before germination while Sunbelt is        not susceptible for light dormancy;    -   NUN 06075 LTL is not susceptible for heat dormancy, whereas        Sunbelt is susceptible for heat dormancy;    -   Shape of cotyledons of NUN 06075 LTL is spatulate, while those        of Sunbelt are broad;    -   NUN 06075 LTL has a length/width index (L/W×10 see USDA        criteria) of fourth leaf that is at least about 15%, or        preferably at least 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 21%, 22%, or even        about 22.4% bigger than the length/width index of fourth leaf of        Sunbelt;    -   The basal margin of the fourth leaf of NUN 06075 is coarsely        dentate, while that of Sunbelt is moderately dentate;    -   NUN 06075 LTL has medium green colored fourth leaf (e.g. RHS        138A) while the fourth leaf of Sunbelt is dark green, (e.g. RHS        146 A) (see USDA criteria);    -   The mature leaves of NUN 06075 LTL have no or slight undulation        (e.g. like those of variety Dark Green Boston) while those of        Sunbelt are    -   The leaves of NUN 06075 LTL are medium green (e.g. RHS 137C)        while those of Sunbelt are dark green (e.g. RHS 137A);    -   Leaves of NUN 06075 LTL have a dull glossiness (like variety        Vanguard) while those of Sunbelt have a moderate glossiness        (like variety Salinas);    -   Leaves of NUN 06075 LTL are not blistered (like Salinas) while        those of Sunbelt are moderately blistered (like Vanguard);    -   Leaf thickness of NUN 06075 LTL is intermediate, while Sunbelt        has thick leafs;    -   NUN 06075 LTL has a spread of frame leaves that is at least        about 18%, or preferably at least 19%, 20%, 21%, 22%, 23%, 24%,        or even about 24.8% smaller than the spread of frame leaves of        Sunbelt e.g. the average spread of frame leaves of NUN 06075 LTL        is 122.6 cm when that of Sunbelt is 30.2 cm;    -   NUN 06075 LTL has a head weight that is at least about 4%, or        preferably at least 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, or even about 9.2%        bigger than the head weight of Sunbelt;    -   NUN 06075 LTL has a core diameter at base of head that is at        least about 5%, or preferably at least 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 11%,        or even about 11.8% smaller than the core diameter at base of        head of Sunbelt.

Comparing variety NUN 06075 LTL with Standard Regional Check VarietyGreen Towers reveals one or more, e.g., at least two, at least three, atleast four, or more, optionally all morphological and/or physiologicalcharacteristics listed in the following (see also Table 1), when grownunder the same environmental conditions:

-   -   NUN 06075 LTL has black (grey brown) seed, whereas Green Towers        has white (silver grey) seed;    -   NUN 06075 LTL is not susceptible for heat dormancy, whereas        Green Towers is susceptible for heat dormancy;    -   NUN 06075 LTL has a length/width index of fourth leaf that is at        least about 25%, or preferably at least 30%, 31%, 32%, 33%, 34%,        35%, 36%, or even about 36.3% bigger than the length/width index        of fourth leaf of Green Towers; NUN 06075 LTL has fourth leaves        that show slight undulation, whereas Green Towers' fourth leaves        are flat;    -   NUN 06075 LTL has medium green colored fourth leaves (e.g. RHS        138A) while the fourth leaf of Green Towers is dark green, (e.g.        RHS 146 B) (see USDA criteria);    -   NUN 06075 LTL has absent/slight undulations of the apical margin        of mature leaves, whereas Green Towers has strong undulations of        the apical margin;    -   The leaves of NUN 06075 LTL are medium green (e.g. RHS 137C)        while those of Green Towers are dark green (e.g. RHS 137B);    -   NUN 06075 LTL has dull mature leaves, whereas Green Towers has        moderate glossy mature leaves;    -   NUN 06075 LTL has absent/slight blistering of mature leaves,        whereas Green Towers has moderate blistering of mature leaves;    -   NUN 06075 LTL has intermediate thick mature leaves, whereas        Green Towers has thick mature leaves;    -   NUN 06075 LTL has a spread of frame leaves that is at least        about 20%, or preferably at least 21%, 22%, 23%, 24%, 25%, 26%,        27%, or even about 27.7% smaller than the spread of frame leaves        of Green Towers;    -   NUN 06075 LTL has a medium size head, whereas Green Towers has a        large size head;    -   NUN 06075 LTL has a head weight that is at least about 5%, or        preferably at least 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, or even about 10.4%        bigger than the head weight of Green Towers;    -   NUN 06075 LTL has a core diameter at base of head that is at        least about 5%, or preferably at least 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 11%,        12%, 13%, or even about 13.2% smaller than the core diameter at        base of head of Green Towers.

The morphological and/or physiological differences between NUN 06075 LTLand other known varieties, such as SUNBELT or GREEN TOWERS (which is astandard regional check variety) can easily be established by growingNUN 06075 LTL next to the other varieties (in the same field orgreenhouse under the same environmental conditions), preferably inseveral locations which are suitable for lettuce cultivation, andmeasuring morphological and/or physiological characteristics of a numberof plants (e.g., to calculate an average value (of at least 10 or evenmore plants which were grown under the same conditions) and to determinethe variation range/uniformity within the variety). Comparativevarieties which can be grown in the same field are GREEN TOWERS, SUNBELTand others. These are commercially available varieties.

For example, trials can be carried out in the Netherlands or the USAwhereby e.g., seed characteristics, cotyledon characteristics, fourthleaf characteristics, mature plant characteristics, such as plant headdiameter, head shape, head size, head weight, butt and corecharacteristics, time of bolting (number of days from first water dateto seed stalk emergence), seed stalk characteristics, bolter habit,maturity (earliness of harvest-mature head formation), regional and/orseasonal adaptation, pest and/or disease resistance/susceptibility canbe measured and directly compared. Also resistance against physiologicalstresses, such as tip burn, heat-, drought-, cold-resistance, etc.and/or post-harvest characteristics of heads or leaves can be compared,such as pink rib, russet spotting, rusty brown discoloration, internalrib necrosis (blackheart, grey rib, grey steak) and brown stain can bemeasured using known methods, e.g. as indicated in the USDA descriptors.The morphological and/or physiological characteristics may vary withvariation in the environment (such as temperature, light intensity, daylength, humidity, soil, fertilizer use), which is why a comparison underthe same environmental conditions is preferred. Colors can best bemeasured against The Munsell Book of Color (Munsell Color MacbethDivision of Kollmorgan Instruments Corporation) or using the RHS-Chart(see, e.g., worldwide net RHS website, ‘RHS colour charts’)).

In one embodiment a lettuce plant is provided, designated NUN 06075 LTL,representative seeds of said lettuce plant hybrid having been depositedunder accession number NCIMB ______.

In another aspect, a lettuce plant is provided, which (statisticallysignificant) differs from NUN 06075 LTL in at least one morphologicaland/or physiological characteristic, but which does not differ from NUN06075 LTL in the following characteristics when grown under the sameconditions: 1) Frame leaf spread; 2) Core diameter at base of head; 3)length/width index of fourth leaf (L/W*10); 4) green color of matureleaves; 5) head weight.

In a further aspect, a lettuce plant, which (statistically significant)differs from NUN 06075 LTL in at least one morphological and/orphysiological characteristics, but which does not differ from NUN 06075LTL in the following characteristics when grown under the sameconditions: 1) Frame leaf spread; 2) Core diameter at base of head; 3)length/width index of fourth leaf (L/W*10); 4) green color of matureleaves; 5) head weight; and which further does not significantly differfrom the plant designated NUN 06075 LTL in one or more of the followingcharacteristics when grown under the same conditions; 6) head sizeclass; 7) seed color, light and heat dormancy; 8) green color of fourthleaf; 9)_shape of cotyledon; 10 glossiness, blistering and thickness ofmature leaves; 11) days to maturity.

In one embodiment any of the above lettuce plants have/are: 1) a spreadof frame leaves that is about 22.6 cm, e.g. between 17 and 27 cm, orbetween 19 and 25 cm, or between 21.6 and 23.6 cm; 2) a core diameter atbase of head that is about 28.2 mm, e.g. between 23 and 33 mm, orbetween 25 and 31 mm, or between 27.2 mm and 29.2 mm; 3) a length/widthindex of fourth leaf (L/W×10) that is about 24, e.g. between 19 and 29,or between 21 and 27, or between 23 and 25; 4) a medium green color ofmature leaves, e.g. similar to the color of variety Great Lakes, e.g.RHS 137 C; 5) a head weight that is about 535 g, e.g. between about 510and 550 g or between about 520 and 540 g, or between 530 and 540 g, orbetween 533 and 538 g; 6) a medium head size class; 7) white (silvergray)-colored seeds that require light for germination and are notsusceptible to heat dormancy; 8) a medium green color of fourth leavese.g. RHS 138A; 9) spatulate-shaped cotyledons; 10) dull glossiness e.g.like variety Vanguard) of mature leaves with absent/slight blistering(e.g. like variety Salinas) and intermediate thickness; 11) about 90days to maturity when grown in Spring season e.g. about 2 or even about3 or 4 days shorter than Sunbelt or about 1 or even about 2 days longerthan Green Towers.

In a further embodiment a lettuce plant is provided, which(statistically significant) differs from the lettuce plant designatedNUN 06075 LTL, representative seeds of said lettuce plant hybrid havingbeen deposited under accession number NCIMB ______, in at least one,two, three, four, or five morphological and/or physiologicalcharacteristics when grown under the same environmental conditions,whereby the morphological and/or physiological characteristics are thoseof Table 1. The hybrid plant does, thus, not differ in a statisticallysignificant way from NUN 06075 LTL in any of the other morphologicaland/or physiological characteristics of Table 1 when grown under thesame conditions.

In one embodiment a lettuce plant is provided, designated NUN 06075 LTL,which does not (statistically significant) differ in any of themorphological and/or physiological characteristics of Table 1 fromplants grown from seeds deposited under accession number NCIMB ______when grown under the same environmental conditions.

In one aspect, the above described lettuce plants are obtained from invitro cell or tissue cultures. As already mentioned, in vitro cell ortissue cultures are known in the art and can be used to eithervegetatively reproduce the plant from which the cells or tissues wereobtained or to identify and/or select phenotypic variants, and toregenerate such variants. Once selected, such selected variants can thenin turn also be reproduced true to type using in vitro cell or tissueculture.

Thus in one aspect, a lettuce plant is provided which is clonallypropagated (it is a vegetative reproduction) from NUN 06075 LTL cells ortissue and which comprises all the distinguishing characteristics of NUN06075 LTL when grown under the same environmental conditions. In anotheraspect it further comprises one or more of the further distinguishingcharacteristics. In yet another aspect it comprises all morphologicaland/or physiological characteristics of NUN 06075 LTL as given inTable 1. And in yet a further aspect it comprises all morphologicaland/or physiological characteristics of NUN 06075 LTL as given in Table1, except that it significantly differs from NUN 06075 LTL in one, two,three, four, or five of the morphological and/or physiologicalcharacteristics of Table 1.

Seeds

The present invention does not only provide plants designated NUN 06075LTL. Also provided are seeds of lettuce variety NUN 06075 LTL. Arepresentative sample of said seeds (at least 2500 seeds) has beendeposited under the Budapest Treaty with Accession Number NCIMB ______or PTA ______.

Seeds of NUN 06075 LTL are obtainable by, e.g., growing plants from theseeds deposited under Accession number NCIMB ______ or PTA ______ andallowing, e.g., self-pollination and/or cross-pollination and collectingseeds from the resulting plants. The resultant NUN 06075 LTL seeds canbe grown to produce plants designated NUN 06075 LTL. Moreover, a seeddedicated NUN 06075 LTL also refers to a seed wherein the plant growntherefrom shows essentially all characteristics of NUN 06075 LTL. Seedsof NUN 06075 LTL are also obtainable by vegetative propagation fromplant cells or tissue of a plant grown from seeds of NUN 06075 LTL.

In one embodiment, a plurality of NUN 06075 LTL seeds are packaged intosmall and/or large containers (e.g., bags, cartons, cans, etc.). Theseeds may be pelleted prior to packing (to form pills or pellets) and/ortreated with various compounds, such as seed coatings.

Seed pelleting can be combined with film coating (Halmer, P. 2000.Commercial seed treatment technology. In: Seed technology and itsbiological basis. Eds: Black, M. and Bewley, J. D., pages 257-286).Pelleting creates round or rounded shapes, which are easily sown withmodern sowing machines. A pelleting mixture typically contains seeds andat least glue and filler material. The latter could be, for example,clay, mica, chalk or cellulose. In addition, certain additives can beincluded to improve particular properties of the pellet, e.g., a seedtreatment formulation comprising at least one insecticidal, acaricidal,nematicidal or fungicidal compound can be added directly into thepelleting mixture or in separate layers. A seed treatment formulationcan include one of these types of compounds only, a mixture of two ormore of the same type of compounds, or a mixture of one or more of thesame type of compounds with at least one other insecticide, acaricide,nematicide or fungicide.

Formulations especially suitable for the application as a seed treatmentcan be added to the seed in the form of a film coating including alsothe possibility of using the coating in or on a pellet, as well asincluding the seed treatment formulation directly into the pelletmixture. Characteristically, a film coating is a uniform, dust-free,water permeable film, evenly covering the surface of all individualseeds (Halmer, P. 2000. Commercial seed treatment technology. In: Seedtechnology and its biological basis. Eds: Black, M. and Bewley, J. D.,pages 257-286). Besides the formulation, the coating mixture generallyalso contains other ingredients such as water, glue (typically apolymer), filler materials, pigments and certain additives to improveparticular properties of the coating. Several coatings can be combinedon a single seed.

In addition, several combinations with film coating are possible: thefilm coating can be added on the outside of the pellet, in between twolayers of pelleting material, and directly on the seed before thepelleting material is added. Also more than 1 film coating layer can beincorporated in a single pellet. A special type of pelleting isencrusting. This technique uses less filler material, and the result isa ‘mini-pellet’.

Seeds may also be primed. Of all the commercially planted vegetableseeds, lettuce is the most often primed.

Priming is a water-based process that is performed on seeds to increaseuniformity of germination and emergence from the soil, and thus enhancevegetable stand establishment. Priming decreases the time span betweenthe emergence of the first and the last seedlings. Methods how to primelettuce seeds are well known in the art (see, e.g., Hill et alHortScience 42(6): 1436, 2007).

Plant and Parts Thereof

Also provided are parts of the lettuce plants designated NUN 06075 LTLsuch as microspores, pollen, ovaries, flowers, stalks, heads, ovules,leaves, shoots, seeds, embryos, embryo sacs, roots, cuttings, stems,cells, protoplasts, meristems, buds etc. of variety NUN 06075 LTL, orparts of any of these. Such parts may be (part of) sexual reproductiontissues, which include, without limitation microspores, pollen, flowers,ovaries, ovules, embryo sacs and egg cells, or vegetative cells ortissues, which include, without limitation cuttings, roots, stems, cellsor protoplasts, leaves, cotyledons, meristems and buds.

Moreover, there is provided a cell culture or tissue culture of lettucevariety NUN 06075 LTL in which the cell- or tissue culture is derivedfrom a tissue such as, for example and without limitation, leaves,pollen, embryos, cotyledon, hypocotyls, meristematic cells, roots, roottips, anthers, flowers, seeds or stems. For example, leaf-, hypocotyl-or stem-cuttings may be used in tissue culture.

Also provided are lettuce plants regenerated from the above-describedplant parts, or regenerated from the above-described cell or tissuecultures, said regenerated plant having essentially all themorphological and physiological characteristics of lettuce variety NUN06075 LTL. These plants can also be referred to as “vegetativepropagations of NUN 06075 LTL”.

Also provided are harvested leaves and/or heads of NUN 06075 LTL andpackages comprising a plurality of leaves and/or heads of NUN 06075 LTL.

Growing Plants

Lettuce plants can be produced by seeding directly in the ground (e.g.,soil such as soil in a field) or by germinating the seeds in controlledenvironment conditions (e.g., greenhouses) and then transplanting theseedlings into the field (see, e.g., Gonai et al., J. of Exp. Bot.,55(394): 111, 2004; Louise Jackson et al, Publication 7215 ISBN978-1-60107-007-4 and Publication 7216 ISBN 978-1-60107-008-1 and theworld wide web at “anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu” search: lettuce forcultivation, harvesting, handling and postharvest methods commonlyused). Lettuce may also be grown in tunnels.

Moreover, lettuce can be grown in hydroponic cultures as described in,e.g., US 2008/0222949.

Hydroponics is the cultivation of plants without soil. There are 6 basictypes of hydroponic systems: Wick, Raft (also called Water Culture), Ebband Flow (also called Flood & Drain), Drip, Nutrient Film Technique, andAeroponic. There are hundreds of variations on these basic types ofsystems, and most hydroponics systems can be described as a variation orcombination of these six types.

In wick systems, plants are grown in a soil-less growing medium and asolution containing water and nutrients is delivered using wicks thatabsorb the solution from a reservoir and deliver the solution to thegrowing medium. The roots of the plants are optionally prevented from orallowed to grow in the solution.

In raft systems, plants are grown in a soil-less growth medium that isfloated by a raft on the surface of a solution containing water andnutrients. The roots of the plants are optionally prevented from orallowed to grow in the solution.

In Ebb and Flow systems, plants are grown in a soil-less growth mediumin a flooding tray. Solution containing water and nutrients isintermittently delivered to the flooding tray and then returned to areservoir. The plant roots are directly or indirectly contacted by thesolution in the flooding tray. Optionally the solution is delivered by apump and returned by gravity.

In drip systems, plants are grown in a soil-less growing medium. Asolution containing water and nutrients is delivered in drips to thegrowing medium. The solution that is not used by the plants is eitherrecycled (recovery systems) or discarded (non-recovery systems). Inrecovery systems, although there often is a reservoir, the plant rootsare typically prevented from growing directly in the solution.

Nutrient film technique (N.F.T.) systems constantly deliver a thin filmof a nutrient and water containing solution. The plants are grown in asoil-less growth medium and the roots are allowed to grow outside themedium into the surrounding air or the plants are grown directlysuspended in the air without a growing medium. The roots that grow inthe air are constantly contacted by the thin film of solution. Typicallythe solution is recycled. Optionally the solution is delivered by a pumpand returned by gravity.

Aeroponic systems deliver the solution as a fine spray. The plants aregrown in a soil-less growth medium and the roots are allowed to growoutside the medium into the surrounding air or the plants are growndirectly suspended in the air without a growing medium. The roots thatgrow in the air are intermittently sprayed or misted with a solutioncontaining water and nutrients. The roots of the plants are optionallyprevented from or allowed to grow in the solution.

Furthermore, different lettuce varieties may be grown as “compositelettuce” (see, e.g., EP 1 197 137 A1).

Plants and Progeny

In another embodiment, plants and parts of lettuce variety designatedNUN 06075 LTL and progeny of lettuce variety designated NUN 06075 LTLare provided e.g., grown from seeds, produced by sexual or vegetativereproduction, regenerated from the above-described plant parts, orregenerated from cell or tissue culture of the lettuce varietydesignated NUN 06075 LTL, in which the reproduced (seed propagated orvegetatively propagated) plant has all or essentially all morphologicaland physiological characteristics of lettuce variety designated NUN06075 LTL, e.g., as outlined in table 1. In one embodiment, said progenyof the lettuce variety designated NUN 06075 LTL can be modified in one,two, three, four or five characteristics (e.g. different shape of apicalmargin of leaves or further resistances), in which the modification is aresult of, for example and without limitation, mutagenesis ortransformation with a transgene. A progeny can be a first generationprogeny or a progeny up to generation two, three, four, five, six, sevenor even higher.

Furthermore, the invention provides for progeny of variety NUN 06075 LTLsuch as progeny obtained by, e.g., selfing NUN 06075 LTL one or moretimes and/or cross-pollinating NUN 06075 LTL with another lettuce plantof a different variety or breeding line, or with a lettuce plant of theinvention one or more times. In particular, the invention provides forprogeny that retain essentially all morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of NUN 06075 LTL.

In still another embodiment, there is provided progeny of lettucevariety NUN 06075 LTL produced by sexual or vegetative reproduction,grown from seeds, regenerated from the above-described plant parts, orregenerated from the above-described tissue culture of the lettucevariety or a progeny plant thereof, in which the sexually orvegetatively propagated plant has essentially all the morphological andphysiological characteristics of lettuce variety NUN 06075 LTL.

Moreover, also an Essentially Derived Variety (EDV) of a lettuce plantdesignated NUN 06075 LTL is provided. In one embodiment, an EDV exhibitsone, two, three or more than three physiological and/or morphologicalcharacteristics which are different from those of NUN 06075 LTL butwhich otherwise comprises the distinguishing characteristics of NUN06075 LTL and/or has essentially all physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of a lettuce plant designated NUN 06075 LTL. In oneembodiment, said EDV has essentially all physiological and/ormorphological characteristics of a lettuce plant designated NUN 06075LTL but has one or two physiological and morphological characteristic(s)which is (are) different from those of the corresponding physiologicaland/or morphological characteristics of a plant designated NUN 06075 LTL(i.e. has additional trait(s)).

In one embodiment, NUN 06075 LTL may also be mutated (by e.g.irradiation, chemical mutagenesis, heat treatment, etc.) and mutatedseeds or plants may be selected in order to change one or morecharacteristics of NUN 06075 LTL. Also natural mutants may be identifiedand used in breeding. Methods such as TILLING and/or EcoTILLING may beapplied to lettuce populations in order to identify mutants. Similarly,NUN 06075 LTL may be transformed and regenerated, whereby one or morechimeric genes are introduced into the variety. Transformation can becarried out using standard methods, such as Agrobacterium tumefaciensmediated transformation or biolistics, followed by selection of thetransformed cells and regeneration into plants. A desired trait (e.g.genes conferring pest or disease resistance, herbicide, fungicide orinsecticide tolerance, etc.) can be introduced into NUN 06075 LTL, orprogeny thereof, by transforming NUN 06075 LTL or progeny thereof with atransgene that confers the desired trait, wherein the transformed plantretains essentially all the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of NUN 06075 LTL or the progeny thereof and contains thedesired trait.

The invention also provides for progeny of lettuce variety NUN 06075 LTLobtained by further breeding with NUN 06075 LTL. In one aspect progenyare F₁ progeny obtained by crossing NUN 06075 LTL with another plant orS1 progeny obtained by selfing NUN 06075 LTL. Also encompassed are F2progeny obtained by selfing the F₁ plants. “Further breeding”encompasses traditional breeding (e.g., selfing, crossing,backcrossing), marker assisted breeding, and/or mutation breeding. Inone embodiment, the progeny have all the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of variety NUN 06075 LTL when grown under the sameenvironmental conditions.

In one aspect haploid plants and/or double haploid plants of NUN 06075LTL are encompassed herein. Haploid and double haploid (DH) plants canfor example be produced by anther or microspore culture and regenerationinto a whole plant. For DH production chromosome doubling may be inducedusing known methods, such as colchicine treatment or the like.

The invention also provides a method of producing plants of varietydesignated NUN 06075 LTL, or its progeny, or an EDV, or a part thereof,comprising vegetative propagation of a plant designated NUN 06075 LTL.In one embodiment, said vegetative propagation comprises regenerating awhole plant from a part of variety designated NUN 06075 LTL. In oneembodiment, said part of a plant is a cutting, root, stem, cell,protoplast, leaf meristem, bud, cell culture or a tissue culture (e.g.,in vitro meristem culture, see Murakami and Oka, 1996, Plant TissueCulture Letters 13(3): 339). Thus, a vegetative propagated plant (or apart thereof) is provided having at least the essential morphologicaland physiological characteristics of a lettuce plant designated NUN06075 LTL when grown under the same environmental conditions. In someembodiments, said propagated plant has at least one or moremorphological and physiological characteristic in common with a lettuceplant designated NUN 06075 LTL. Such characteristics are, e.g. the seedcolor, glossiness, shape of cotyledons etc. as outlined in thisapplication.

The invention also provides for a method of producing a vegetativelypropagated plant of variety designated NUN 06075 LTL, or a part thereof,comprising regeneration of said plant from a cell culture or a tissueculture. Also provided are plants which are regenerated from such a cellculture or tissue culture. In one embodiment such plants are haploid ordouble haploid plants of NUN 06075 LTL.

In still another aspect, the present invention provides a method ofproducing a plant derived from NUN 06075 LTL, the method comprising thesteps of: (a) preparing a progeny plant derived from NUN 06075 LTL,wherein said preparing comprises crossing a plant of NUN 06075 LTLeither as a male or as a female parent with a second plant, or selfingNUN 06075 LTL, or vegetative propagation of NUN 06075 LTL, and (b)collecting seeds from said crossing or selfing or regenerating a wholeplant from the vegetative cell- or tissue culture. The invention alsoincludes seeds and/or plants obtained by this method.

In one embodiment, crossing a plant of NUN 06075 LTL either as a male oras a female parent with a second plant refers to cross-pollination oftwo plants of NUN 06075 LTL or of crossing NUN 06075 LTL with an EDV ofNUN 06075 LTL, or crossing two EDVs of NUN 06075 LTL with each other. Inanother embodiment, crossing a plant of NUN 06075 LTL either as a maleor as a female parent with a second plant refers to cross-pollination ofNUN 06075 LTL with a plant of another lettuce variety, breeding line orwild Lactuca species, e.g. L. virosa or L. serriola.

In yet a further aspect, the invention provides for a method ofproducing a new lettuce plant, e.g., a F₁ hybrid. The method comprises,crossing NUN 06075 LTL, either as male or as female parent, with asecond lettuce plant which can be a second lettuce plant of the samevariety, a lettuce plant of a different variety, a breeding line (e.g.an elite line) or a wild relative of lettuce (e.g., Lactuca virosa orLactuca serriola) or genetic transformation techniques to produce aprogeny of NUN 06075 LTL. The method may further comprise selfing the F₁to produce an F2 (and optionally further selfing selected F₂ plants toproduce an F₃, etc.), and backcrossing an F₁, F₂, F₃, etc. to NUN 06075LTL or to an EDV of NUN 06075 LTL, to produce a backcross population(BC₁), which may then be selfed to produce a BC₁S₁ population, etc., ormay be used to produce a BC₂ population, or other backcross populations.

Thus, in one aspect a method for developing a lettuce plant in a lettucebreeding program is provided, using a lettuce plant of the invention, orits parts, as a source of plant breeding material. Suitable plantbreeding techniques are recurrent selection, backcrossing, pedigreebreeding, line selection, mass selection, mutation breeding and/orgenetic marker enhanced selection. For example, in one aspect, themethod comprises crossing a lettuce plant designated NUN 06075 LTL, orprogeny thereof, with a different lettuce plant selected from the groupconsisting of a plant of the same variety, a lettuce plant of adifferent variety, a (breeding) line, or a wild relative of lettuce(e.g., L. virosa or L. serriola), and wherein one or more offspring ofthe crossing are subject to one or more plant breeding techniquesselected from the group consisting of recurrent selection, backcrossing,pedigree breeding, line selection, mass selection, mutation breeding andgenetic marker enhanced selection (see e.g. Allard (1960), John Wiley &Sons, Inc,: Principles of plant breeding, Library of Congress CatalogCard Number: 60-14240).

In still yet another aspect; the present invention provides a method ofproducing a new plant comprising (a) crossing NUN 06075 LTL, or aprogeny plant thereof, with itself or a second plant to produce a seedof a progeny plant of a subsequent generation. In further embodiments,the method may additionally comprise: (c) growing a progeny plant of asubsequent generation from said seed of a progeny plant of a subsequentgeneration and crossing the progeny plant of a subsequent generationwith itself or a second plant; and repeating the steps for an additional3-10 generations to produce a plant derived from NUN 06075 LTL. Theplant derived from NUN 06075 LTL may be an inbred line, and theaforementioned repeated crossing steps may be defined as comprisingsufficient inbreeding to produce the inbred line. In the method, it maybe desirable to select particular plants resulting from step (c) forcontinued crossing according to steps (b) and (c). By selecting plantshaving one or more desirable traits, a plant derived from NUN 06075 LTLis obtained which possesses some of the desirable traits of the line aswell as potentially other selected traits.

Pedigree Selection

In one embodiment, Pedigree selection is used as breeding method fordeveloping a lettuce variety. Pedigree selection, also known as the“Vilmorin system of selection,” is described in, e.g., Allard, 1960,John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: Principles of plant breeding: 119-128, Libraryof Congress Catalog Card Number: 60-14240.

In general, selection is first practiced among F₂ plants. In the nextseason, the most desirable F₃ lines are first identified, then desirableF₃ plants within each line are selected. The following season and in allsubsequent generations of inbreeding, the most desirable families areidentified first, then desirable lines within the selected families arechosen, and finally desirable plants within selected lines are harvestedindividually. A family refers to lines that were derived from plantsselected from the same progeny from the preceding generation.

Using this pedigree method, two parents may be crossed using anemasculated female and a pollen donor (male) to produce F₁ offspring.Lettuce is an obligate self-pollination species, which means that pollenis shed before stigma emergence, assuring 100% self-fertilization.Therefore, in order to optimize crossing, a method of misting may beused to wash the pollen off prior to fertilization to assure crossing orhybridization.

Parental varieties are selected from commercial varieties thatindividually exhibit one or more desired phenotypes. Additionally, anybreeding method involving selection of plants for the desired phenotypecan be used in the method of the present invention.

The F₁ may be self-pollinated to produce a segregating F₂ generation.Individual plants may then be selected which represent the desiredphenotype in each generation (F₃, F₄, F₅, etc.) until the traits arehomozygous or fixed within a breeding population.

Thus, progeny in connection with Pedigree selection are either thegeneration (seeds) produced from the first cross (F₁) or selfing (S₁),or any further generation produced by crossing and/or selfing (F₂, F₃,F₄, F₅, F₆, F₇, etc.) and/or backcrossing (BC₁, BC₂, BC₃, BC₄, BC₅, BC₆,BC₇, etc.) one or more selected plants of the F₁ and/or S₁ and/or BC₁generation (or plants of any further generation, e.g. the F₂) withanother lettuce plant (and/or with a wild relative of lettuce). Usingcommon breeding methods such as backcrossing or recurrent selection, oneor more specific characteristics may be introduced into NUN 06075 LTL,to provide an EDV of NUN 06075 LTL.

In one embodiment, this invention is directed to methods for producing alettuce plant by crossing a first parent lettuce plant with a secondparent lettuce plant wherein either the first or second parent lettuceplant is lettuce NUN 06075 LTL. Further, both first and second parentlettuce plants can come from NUN 06075 LTL. Still further, thisinvention also is directed to methods for producing a NUN 06075LTL-derived lettuce plant by crossing NUN 06075 LTL with a secondlettuce plant and growing the progeny seed, and repeating the crossingand growing steps with the NUN 06075 LTL-derived plant from zero toseven times. Thus, any such methods using NUN 06075 LTL are part of thisinvention: selfing, backcrosses, hybrid production, crosses topopulations, and the like. All plants produced using NUN 06075 LTL as aparent are within the scope of this invention, including plants derivedfrom NUN 06075 LTL. Advantageously, NUN 06075 LTL is used in crosseswith other, different, lettuce varieties to produce first generation(F1) lettuce hybrid seeds and plants with superior characteristics.

It should be understood that the lettuce can, through routinemanipulation of cytoplasmic or other factors, be produced in amale-sterile form. Such embodiments are also contemplated within thescope of the present claims.

General crossing methods for lettuce are, e.g., described in US2009/0271897 A1. Such methods include but are not limited to:

-   -   Manual removal of anther tubes from flowers, misting the        designated male flowers to wash the pollen off prior to        fertilization and pollen from another variety or donor parent is        then introduced by gently rubbing the stigma and style of the        donor parent to the maternal parent. Tags with the pertinent        information on date and pedigree are then secured to the flowers        in order to keep track. About 3 weeks after pollination, seeds        are harvested when the involucres have matured. The seeds are        eventually sown and in the presence of markers such as leaf        color or leaf margins, the selfed or maternal seedlings or        plants are identified. Generally, in case of crossing with a        plant of a different variety, there are no visible markers and        breeders must wait until the F2 generations when expected        segregation patterns for the genetic character of interest can        be followed.    -   Use of male sterility systems, such as genetic male sterility        (GMS), see e.g. Hayashi et al. Euphytica Vol 180(3): 429-436) or        cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS). Genetically engineered        sterility is also available. Non-limiting examples of        genetically engineering male sterility in lettuce are by        expression of a ribonuclease gene under the control of a        tapetum-specific promoter (see Reynaerts et al., Scientia        Horticulturae (1993) 55 (1-2): 125-129). Other male sterile        systems include the expression of beta-glucanase via a        tapetum-specific promoter (see Curtis et al., Plant Science        Limerick (1996) 113(1): 113-119).    -   Also provided is a method of producing a hybrid lettuce seed        comprised of crossing a first parent lettuce plant with a second        parent lettuce plant and harvesting the resultant hybrid lettuce        seed, in which the first parent lettuce plant or the second        parent lettuce plant is the lettuce variety NUN 06075 LTL.        Accordingly, a hybrid lettuce plant produced from crossing a        first parent lettuce plant with a second parent lettuce plant        and harvesting the resultant hybrid lettuce seed, wherein said        first parent lettuce plant or said second parent lettuce plant        is a lettuce plant designated NUN 06075 LTL is provided, as        well.

The invention provides for methods of producing EDVs (EssentiallyDerived Varieties), which retain essentially all morphological andphysiological characteristics of NUN 06075 LTL but which may differ froma lettuce plant designated NUN 06075 LTL in one, two, three or morefurther morphological and/or physiological characteristics, but whichare still genetically closely related to NUN 06075 LTL. The relatednesscan, for example be determined by fingerprinting techniques (e.g.,making use of isozyme markers and/or molecular markers such as SNPmarkers, AFLP markers, microsatellites, minisatellites, RAPD markers,RFLP markers and others). A plant is “closely related” to NUN 06075 LTLif its DNA fingerprint is at least 80%, 90%, 95%, 97% or 98% identicalto the fingerprint of NUN 06075 LTL. In a preferred embodiment amplifiedfragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers are used for DNAfingerprinting (Vos et al. 1995, Nucleic Acid Research 23: 4407-4414). Aclosely related plant may have a Jaccard's Similarity index of at leastabout 0.8, preferably at least about 0.9, 0.95, 0.98 or more (vanEeuwijk and Law (2004), Euphytica 137: 129-137). In one embodiment aclosely related plant of NUN 06075 LTL has a Jaccard Similarity index ofhigher than 0.96. See also the Guidelines on Essentially DerivedVarieties for lettuce published by the ISF (see website ‘Worldseed’,‘EDV’), where the technical protocol for assessing the Jaccard index isoutlined. The following 10 AFLP primer combinations can be used:E33/M59, E35/M48, E35/M49, E35/M59, E35/M60, E38/M54, E44/M48, E44/M49,E45/M48, E45/M49.

By crossing and/or selfing also (one or more) single traits may beintroduced into NUN 06075 LTL (e.g., using backcrossing breedingschemes), while retaining the remaining morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of NUN 06075 LTL. For example, disease resistance genesmay be introduced, genes responsible for one or more quality traits(such as head quality), yield, etc. Both single genes (dominant,semidominant or recessive) and one or more QTLs (quantitative traitloci) may be transferred into NUN 06075 LTL by breeding with NUN 06075LTL.

Any pest or disease resistance genes may be introduced into NUN 06075LTL, progeny thereof or into an EDV of NUN 06075 LTL. Resistance againstone or more of the following diseases is preferably introduced intoplants of the invention: downy mildew, Sclerotinia rot, Botrytis,powdery mildew, anthracnose, bottom rot, corky root rot, lettuce mosaicvirus, big vein, lettuce aphid, beet western yellows and aster yellows.Resistance against one or more of the following pests is preferablypresent or introduced into plants of the invention: Sclerotinia minor(leaf drop), Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (leaf drop), Rhizoctonia solani(bottom drop), Erysiphe cichoracearum (powdery mildew), Fusariumoxysporum f. sp. lactucae (Fusarium wilt) resistance. Other resistancegenes, against pathogenic viruses (e.g. Lettuce infectious yellows virus(LIYV), lettuce mosaic virus (LMV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Beetwestern yellows virus (BWYV), Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMY)), fungi,bacteria or lettuce pests may also be introduced. In one embodimentresistance against Nasonovia ribisnigri biotype Nr:0 and/or Nr:1 isintroduced into NUN 06075 LTL.

Transgene

Also provided is a method of producing a lettuce plant having a desiredtrait, wherein the method comprises transforming the lettuce plant ofthe invention with a transgene that confers the desired trait, whereinthe transformed plant retains essential all phenotypic and morphologicalcharacteristics of a NUN 06075 LTL plant of the invention and containsthe desired trait. Thus, a transgenic lettuce plant is provided which isproduced by the method described above, wherein the plant comprises thedesired trait and essentially all of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of a NUN 06075 LTL plant.

Many useful traits that can be introduced into NUN 06075 LTL by e.g.crossing NUN 06075 LTL with a transgenic lettuce plant comprising adesired transgene, as well as by directly introducing a transgene intoNUN 06075 LTL (or an EDV, or progeny of NUN 06075 LTL) by genetictransformation techniques. Genetic transformation may, therefore, beused to insert a selected transgene into the lettuce plants of theinvention or may, alternatively, be used for the preparation oftransgenic lettuce plants which can then be used as a source of thetransgene(s), which can be introduced into NUN 06075 LTL by e.g.backcrossing. Methods for the transformation of plants, includinglettuce, are well known to those of skill in the art.

Any DNA sequences, whether from a different species or from the samespecies, which are inserted into the genome using transformation, arereferred to herein collectively as “transgenes”. A “transgene” alsoencompasses antisense, or sense and antisense sequences capable of genesilencing. Thus, the present invention also relates to transgenic NUN06075 LTL plants. In some embodiments of the invention, a transgenic NUN06075 LTL plants may contain at least one transgene but could contain atleast 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or more transgenes.

One embodiment of the invention is a process for producing progeny of aplant designated NUN 06075 LTL further comprising a desired trait, saidprocess comprising transforming a NUN 06075 LTL plant (or a cell ortissue of NUN 06075 LTL) with at least one transgene that confers adesired trait and/or crossing a plant designated NUN 06075 LTL with atransgenic lettuce plant comprising a desired transgene so that thegenetic material of the progeny that results from the cross contains thetransgene(s). The DNA of the transgene is operatively linked to aregulatory element active in plant cells (especially a promoter) and thetransgene confers a trait selected from the group consisting of malesterility, male fertility, herbicide resistance, insect resistance,disease resistance, improved yield, improved nutritional quality orimproved biotic or abiotic (e.g. drought or salt) stress tolerance.Another embodiment is the product produced by this process. In oneembodiment the desired trait which is based on a transgene may be one ormore of herbicide resistance, insect resistance, disease resistance,stress tolerance, modified fatty acid or modified carbohydratemetabolism. The specific transgene may be any known in the art or listedherein, including, a polynucleotide sequence conferring resistance toimidazolinone, sulfonylurea, glyphosate, glufosinate, triazine,benzonitrile, cyclohexanedione, phenoxy proprionic acid andL-phosphinothricin or a polynucleotide conferring resistance tonematodes, downy mildew, Sclerotinia rot, Botrytis, powdery mildew,anthracnose, bottom rot, corky root rot, lettuce mosaic virus, big vein,lettuce aphid, beet western yellows and aster yellows, Sclerotinia minor(leaf drop), Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (leaf drop), Rhizoctonia solani(bottom drop), Erysiphe cichoracearum (powdery mildew), Fusariumoxysporum f. sp. Lactucae (fusarium wilt), lettuce infectious yellowsvirus (LIYV), lettuce mosaic virus (LMV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV),Beet western yellows virus (BWYV), and Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV).

Numerous methods for plant transformation have been developed, includingbiological and physical plant transformation protocols (see, e.g.,Glick, B. R. and Thompson, J. E. Eds. (CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton(1993): 67-88 and Armstrong, “The First Decade of Maize Transformation:A Review and Future Perspective” Maydica 1999 (44):101-109). Inaddition, expression vectors and in vitro culture methods for plant cellor tissue transformation and regeneration of plants are available. See,e.g., Glick, B. R. and Thompson, J. E. Eds. (CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton(1993): 89-119).

A genetic trait which has been engineered into the genome of aparticular lettuce plant may then be moved into the genome of anotherlettuce plant (e.g. another variety) using traditional breedingtechniques that are well known in the plant breeding arts. For example,a backcrossing approach is commonly used to move a transgene from atransformed lettuce variety into an already developed lettuce variety,and the resulting backcross conversion plant will then comprise thetransgene(s).

Various genetic elements can be introduced into the plant genome usingtransformation. These elements include, but are not limited to genes,coding sequences, inducible-, constitutive-, and tissue specificpromoters, enhancing sequences, and signal and targeting sequences. Forexample, see the traits, genes, and transformation methods listed inU.S. Pat. No. 6,118,055.

Plant transformation involves the construction of an expression vectorwhich will function in plant cells. Such a vector comprises DNAcomprising a gene under control of, or operatively linked to, aregulatory element (for example a promoter). The expression vector maycontain one or more such operably linked gene/regulatory elementcombinations. The vector(s) may be in the form of a plasmid and can beused alone or in combination with other plasmids to provide transformedlettuce plants using transformation methods as described below toincorporate transgenes into the genetic material of the lettuceplant(s).

Although also marker-free transformation methods are known, expressionvectors generally include at least one genetic marker operably linked toa regulatory element (a promoter, for example) that allows transformedcells containing the marker to be either recovered by negativeselection, i.e., inhibiting growth of cells that do not contain theselectable marker gene, or by positive selection, i.e., screening forthe product encoded by the genetic marker. Thus, vectors used for thetransformation of lettuce cells are not limited so long as the vectorcan express an inserted DNA in the cells. For example, vectorscomprising promoters for constitutive gene expression in lettuce cells(e.g., cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter) and promoters inducible byexogenous stimuli can be used. Examples of suitable vectors include pBIbinary vector. The “lettuce cell” into which the vector is to beintroduced includes various forms of lettuce cells, such as for examplecultured cell suspensions, protoplasts, leaf sections, and callus.

Many commonly used selectable marker genes for plant transformation arewell known in the transformation arts, and include, for example, genesthat code for enzymes that metabolically detoxify a selective chemicalagent which may be an antibiotic or a herbicide, or genes that encode analtered target which is insensitive to the inhibitor. A few positiveselection methods are also known in the art.

One commonly used selectable marker gene for plant transformation is theneomycin phosphotransferase II (nptII) gene which, when under thecontrol of plant regulatory signals, confers resistance to kanamycin(see, e.g., Fraley et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1983), 80:4803-4807). Another commonly used selectable marker gene is thehygromycin phosphotransferase gene which confers resistance to theantibiotic hygromycin (see, e.g., Vanden Elzen et al., Plant Mol. Biol,(1985) δ: 299-302).

Additional selectable marker genes of bacterial origin that conferresistance to antibiotics include gentamycin acetyl transferase,streptomycin phosphotransferase and aminoglycoside-3′-adenyltransferase, the bleomycin resistance determinant. Other selectablemarker genes confer resistance to herbicides such as glyphosate,glufosinate or bromoxynil. Further selectable markers such as mousedihydrofolate reductase and plant acetolactate synthase are well knownin the art. Also known are marker genes for plant transformation whichrequire screening of presumptively transformed plant cells rather thandirect genetic selection of transformed cells for resistance to a toxicsubstance such as an antibiotic. These genes are particularly useful toquantify or visualize the spatial pattern of expression of a gene inspecific tissues and are frequently referred to as reporter genesbecause they can be fused to a gene or gene regulatory sequence for theinvestigation of gene expression. The use of such markers is alsoencompassed by the present invention.

The gene encoding Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) can also be utilizedas a marker for gene expression in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells(Chalfie et al., Science (1994) 263: 802-805). GFP and mutants of GFPmay be used as screenable markers.

Genes included in expression vectors must be driven by a nucleotidesequence comprising a regulatory element, for example, a promoter.Several types of promoters are well known in the transformation arts asare other regulatory elements that can be used alone or in combinationwith promoters.

As used herein, “promoter” includes reference to a region of DNAupstream from the start of transcription and involved in recognition andbinding of RNA polymerase and other proteins to initiate transcription.A “plant promoter” is a promoter capable of initiating transcription inplant cells. Exemplary promoters are well known in the art such asinducible promotors, constitutive promoters, tissue-specific promotorsor tissue-preferred promoters. One example is the cauliflower mosaicvirus 35S promoter.

Transport of a protein produced by transgenes to a subcellularcompartment such as the chloroplast, vacuole, peroxisome, glyoxysome,cell wall or mitochondrion or for secretion into the apoplast, isaccomplished by means of operably linking the nucleotide sequenceencoding a signal sequence to the 5′ and/or 3′ region of a gene encodingthe protein of interest. Targeting sequences at the 5′ and/or 3′ end ofthe structural gene may determine during protein synthesis andprocessing where the encoded protein is ultimately compartmentalized.

The presence of a signal sequence directs a polypeptide to either anintracellular organelle (e.g. chloroplasts) or subcellular compartmentor for secretion to the apoplast. Many signal sequences are known in theart (see, e.g., Becker et al., Plant Mol. Biol. (1992) 20: 49-60; orKnox, C., et al., Plant Mol. Biol. (1987) 9: 3-17).

By means of the present invention, plants can be genetically engineeredto express various phenotypes of horticultural interest. Through thetransformation of lettuce the expression of genes can be altered toenhance disease resistance, insect resistance, herbicide resistance,stress tolerance, horticultural quality, and other traits.Transformation can also be used to insert DNA sequences which control orhelp control male sterility or fertility restoration. DNA sequencesnative to lettuce as well as non-native DNA sequences can be transformedinto lettuce and used to alter levels of native or non-native proteins.Various promoters, targeting sequences, enhancing sequences, and otherDNA sequences can be inserted into the genome for the purpose ofaltering the expression of proteins. Reduction of the activity ofspecific genes (also known as gene silencing, or gene suppression) isdesirable for several aspects of genetic engineering in plants.

Many techniques for gene silencing are well known to one of skill in theart, including, but not limited to, knock-outs (such as by insertion ofa transposable element such as mu) or other genetic elements such as aFRT, Lox or other site specific integration site, antisense technology,co-suppression, RNA interference, virus-induced gene silencing,target-RNA-specific ribozymes, ribozymes, oligonucleotide mediatedtargeted modification, Zinc-finger targeted molecules (e.g., WO 01/52620or WO 03/048345); and other methods or combinations of the above methodsknown to those of skill in the art.

Likewise, by means of the present invention, other genes can beexpressed in transformed plants. More particularly, plants can begenetically engineered to express various phenotypes of interest.

Exemplary nucleic acids which may be introduced to the lettuce lines ofthis invention include, for example, DNA sequences or genes from anotherspecies, or even genes or sequences which originate from, or are presentin, the same species, but are incorporated into recipient cells bygenetic engineering methods rather than classical reproduction orbreeding techniques. However, the term “exogenous” is also intended torefer to genes that are not normally present in the cell beingtransformed, or perhaps simply not present in the form, structure, etc.,as found in the transforming DNA segment or gene, or genes which arenormally present and that one desires to express in a manner thatdiffers from the natural expression pattern, e.g., to over-express.Thus, the term “exogenous” gene or DNA is intended to refer to any geneor DNA segment that is introduced into a recipient cell, regardless ofwhether a similar gene may already be present in such a cell. The typeof DNA included in the exogenous DNA can include DNA which is alreadypresent in the plant cell, DNA from another plant, DNA from a differentorganism, or a DNA generated externally, such as a DNA sequencecontaining an antisense message of a gene, or a DNA sequence encoding asynthetic or modified version of a gene.

Non-limiting examples of particular genes and corresponding phenotypesone may choose to introduce into a lettuce plant include one or moregenes for insect tolerance, such as a Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.)gene, disease tolerance such as genes for fungal or bacterial diseasecontrol, herbicide tolerance such as genes conferring glyphosatetolerance, and genes for quality improvements such as yield, nutritionalenhancements, environmental or stress tolerances, or any desirablechanges in plant physiology, growth, development, morphology or plantproduct(s). A more detailed list of genes implicated in this regardincludes, but is not limited to, genes that confer resistance to pestsor disease and that encode:

-   -   plant disease resistance genes (plant defenses are often        activated by specific interaction between the product of a        disease resistance gene (R) in the plant and the product of a        corresponding avirulence (Avr) gene in the pathogen,    -   genes conferring resistance to a pest, such as a nematode (see,        e.g., WO 96/30517; WO 93/19181; WO 03/033651) or insects (e.g.,        insect-specific hormones or pheromones, or insect-specific        peptides or neuropeptides which, upon expression, disrupts the        physiology of the affected pest),    -   an enzyme involved in the modification, including the        post-translational modification, of a biologically active        molecule; for example, a glycolytic enzyme, a proteolytic        enzyme, a lipolytic enzyme, a nuclease, a cyclase, a        transaminase, an esterase, a hydrolase, a phosphatase, a kinase,        a phosphorylase, a polymerase, an elastase, a chitinase, and a        glucanase, whether natural or synthetic (see, e.g., WO        93/02197),    -   a viral-invasive protein or a complex toxin derived therefrom,        e.g., the accumulation of viral coat proteins in transformed        plant cells imparts resistance to viral infection and/or disease        development effected by the virus from which the coat protein        gene is derived, as well as by related viruses (see, e.g.,        Beachy et al., Ann. Rev. Phytopathol. (1990) 28: 451-474). Coat        protein-mediated resistance has been conferred upon transformed        plants against alfalfa mosaic virus, cucumber mosaic virus, and        tobacco mosaic virus),    -   a virus-specific antibody (see, e.g., Tavladoraki et al.,        Nature (1993) 366: 469-472),    -   a developmental-arrestive protein produced in nature by a        pathogen or a parasite. Thus, fungal        endo-α-1,4-D-polygalacturonases facilitate fungal colonization        and plant nutrient release by solubilizing plant cell wall        homo-α-1,4-D-galacturonase (see, e.g., Lamb et al.,        Bio/Technology (1992) 10: 1436-1445),    -   genes involved in the Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR)        Response and/or the pathogenesis-related genes or antifungal        genes (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,875,907),    -   cystatin and cysteine proteinase inhibitors (see, e.g., U.S.        Pat. No. 7,205,453),    -   defensin genes (see, e.g., WO 03/000863 and U.S. Pat. No.        6,911,577),    -   genes conferring virus resistance, e.g. coat protein genes        conferring resistance against Lettuce big vein disease (Kawazu        et al, 2010, Transgenic Research Vol: 19(2): 211-220).

Also included, but not limited to, are genes that confer resistance toan herbicide, e.g.:

-   -   a herbicide that inhibits the growing point or meristem, such as        an imidazolinone or a sulfonylurea. Exemplary genes in this        category code for mutant ALS and AHAS enzyme (see, e.g., Lee et        al., EMBO J. (1988). 7: 1241-1248),    -   Glyphosate (resistance, e.g., conferred by mutant        5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) and aroA        genes, respectively, see, e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,760, U.S.        Pat. No. 5,463,175, U.S. Ser. No. 10/427,692 or U.S. Pat. No.        4,769,061) and other phosphono compounds such as glufosinate,        and pyridinoxy or phenoxy proprionic acids and cyclohexanediones        (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,627,061, U.S. Pat. No. 6,566,587;        U.S. Pat. No. 6,338,961; U.S. Pat. No. 6,248,876; U.S. Pat. No.        6,040,497; U.S. Pat. No. 5,804,425; U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,435; EP        1 173 580; EP 1 173 581; and EP 1 173 582). EP 0 333 033, and        U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,374 disclose nucleotide sequences of        glutamine synthetase genes which confer resistance to herbicides        such as L-phosphinothricin. The nucleotide sequence of a PAT        gene is provided in EP 0 242 246. DeGreef et al.        (Bio/Technology (1989) 7: 61-64) describe the production of        transgenic plants that express chimeric bar genes coding for        phosphinothricin acetyl transferase activity.    -   a herbicide that inhibits HPPD (hydroxyphenylpyruvate        dioxygenase, e.g., WO 2009/144079),    -   a herbicide that inhibits photosynthesis,    -   protoporphyrinogen oxidase (protox) enzyme serves as the target        for a variety of herbicidal compounds (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.        6,288,306; U.S. Pat. No. 6,282,837; U.S. Pat. No. 5,767,373; and        WO 01/12825).

Also included, but not limited to, are genes that confer or contributeto a value-added trait, such as:

-   -   modified fatty acid metabolism,    -   decreased phytate,    -   modified carbohydrate composition,    -   altered antioxidant content or composition,

Also included, but not limited to, are genes that control male sterility(see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,465).

Also included, but not limited to, are genes that create a site for sitespecific DNA integration (see, e.g., WO 99/25821), genes that affectabiotic stress resistance, and other genes and transcription factorsthat affect plant growth and other traits such as yield, flowering,plant growth, and/or plant structure, can be introduced or introgressedinto plants.

Transgenic lettuce can also be used as protein-factory, e.g. for theproduction of edible vaccines.

A vector can be introduced into lettuce cells by known methods, such asthe polyethylene glycol method, polycation method, electroporation,Agrobacterium-mediated transfer, microprojectile bombardment and directDNA uptake by protoplasts.

To effect transformation by electroporation, one may employ eitherfriable tissues, such as a suspension culture of cells or embryogeniccallus or alternatively one may transform immature embryos or otherorganized tissue directly. In this technique, one would partiallydegrade the cell walls of the chosen cells by exposing them topectin-degrading enzymes (pectolyases) or mechanically wound tissues ina controlled manner. An example of electroporation of lettuceprotoplasts is presented in Chupeau et al. (1989; Bio/Technology 7:503-508).

Microprojectile bombardment techniques are widely applicable, and may beused to transform virtually any plant species. Examples involvingmicroprojectile bombardment transformation with lettuce can be found in,e.g., Elliott et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. (2004) 92: 095501.

When using microprojectile bombardment, particles are coated withnucleic acids and delivered into cells by a propelling force. Exemplaryparticles include those comprised of tungsten, platinum, and preferably,gold. For the bombardment, cells in suspension are concentrated onfilters or solid culture medium. Alternatively, immature embryos orother target cells may be arranged on solid culture medium. The cells tobe bombarded are positioned at an appropriate distance below themacroprojectile stopping plate.

An illustrative embodiment of a method for delivering DNA into plantcells by acceleration is the Biolistics Particle Delivery System, whichcan be used to propel particles coated with DNA or cells through ascreen, such as a stainless steel or Nytex screen, onto a surfacecovered with target lettuce cells. The screen disperses the particles sothat they are not delivered to the recipient cells in large aggregates.It is believed that a screen intervening between the projectileapparatus and the cells to be bombarded reduces the size of projectilesaggregate and may contribute to a higher frequency of transformation byreducing the damage inflicted on the recipient cells by projectiles thatare too large.

Agrobacterium-mediated transfer is another widely applicable system forintroducing transgenes into plant cells. Modern Agrobacteriumtransformation vectors are capable of replication in E. coli as wellknown in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,349,124 describes amethod of transforming lettuce plant cells using Agrobacterium-mediatedtransformation. By inserting a chimeric gene having a DNA codingsequence encoding for the full-length B.t. toxin protein that expressesa protein toxic toward Lepidopteran larvae, this methodology resulted inlettuce having resistance against such insects.

Transformation of plant protoplasts also can be achieved using methodsbased on calcium phosphate precipitation, polyethylene glycol treatment,electroporation, and combinations of these treatments (see, e.g.,Neuhaus and Spangenberg, Physiologia Plantarum (1990) 79 (1): 213-217).

The foregoing methods for transformation would typically be used forproducing a transgenic plant. The transgenic plant could then be crossedwith another (non-transgenic or transgenic) plant in order to produce anew transgenic plant. Alternatively, a genetic trait that has beenengineered into a particular lettuce plant using the foregoingtransformation techniques could be moved into another plant usingtraditional breeding techniques that are well known in the plantbreeding arts.

In another embodiment the invention relates to a method for producinglettuce seed, comprising crossing a plant of the invention with itselfor a different lettuce plant and harvesting the resulting seed. In afurther embodiment the invention relates to seed produced according tothis method and/or a lettuce plant produced by growing such seed.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a method ofdetermining the genotype of a plant of the invention comprisingdetecting in the genome of the plant at least a first polymorphism. Themethod may, in certain embodiments, comprise detecting a plurality ofpolymorphisms in the genome of the plant. For example, a sample ofnucleic acid is obtained from a plant and a polymorphism or a pluralityof polymorphisms is detected in said nucleic acids. The method mayfurther comprise storing the results of the step of detecting theplurality of polymorphisms on a computer readable medium.

Molecular markers may also be used to aid in the identification of theplants containing both a desired trait and having recovered a highpercentage of the recurrent parent's genetic complement. Selection oflettuce plants for breeding is not necessarily dependent on thephenotype of a plant and instead can be based on genetic investigations.For example, one can utilize a suitable genetic marker which is closelygenetically linked to a trait of interest. One of these markers can beused to identify the presence or absence of a trait in the offspring ofa particular cross, and can be used in selection of progeny forcontinued breeding. This technique is commonly referred to as markerassisted selection. Any other type of genetic marker or other assay thatis able to identify the relative presence or absence of a trait ofinterest in a plant can also be useful for breeding purposes. Proceduresfor marker assisted selection applicable to the breeding of lettuce arewell known in the art. Such methods will be of particular utility in thecase of recessive traits and variable phenotypes, or where conventionalassays may be more expensive, time consuming or otherwisedisadvantageous. Types of genetic markers which could be used inaccordance with the invention include, but are not necessarily limitedto, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms (SSLPs), Simple SequenceRepeats (SSR), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNAAmplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized AmplifiedRegions (SCARs), Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR),Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs), and Single NucleotidePolymorphisms (SNPs).

Plant genetic complements may be assessed by genetic marker profiles,and by the expression of phenotypic traits that are characteristic ofthe expression of the genetic complement, e.g., gene expressionprofiles, gene product expression profiles and isozyme typing profiles.It is understood that a plant of the invention or a first generationprogeny thereof could be identified by any of the many well-knowntechniques such as, for example, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms(SSLPs), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNA AmplificationFingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs),Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified FragmentLength Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (see, e.g., EP 534 858), and SingleNucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs).

Products and Package

Also provided are plant parts derived from variety NUN 06075 LTL, orfrom a vegetatively propagated plant of NUN 06075 LTL, being selectedfrom the group consisting of: harvested (mature or immature) leaves orparts thereof, pollen, ovules, cells, heads, cotyledons, seeds or partsthereof, stalks or parts thereof, roots or parts thereof, cuttings, orparts thereof, flowers, florets, or flower buds.

In one embodiment, the invention provides for extracts of a plantdescribed herein and compositions comprising or consisting of suchextracts. In a preferred embodiment, the extract consists of orcomprises tissue of a plant described herein or is obtained from suchtissue. For example sesquiterpene-lactones such as lactucin, lactucid orlactucopicrin; or triterpenes such as amyrin, lactucerol or taraxasterolcyanine may be an extract obtained from leaf tissue and used to make ahealth-beneficial composition (e.g., a pharmaceutical or nutraceuticalcomposition).

The invention also provides for a food or feed product comprising orconsisting of a plant part described herein and/or an extract from aplant part described herein. The food or feed product may be fresh orprocessed, e.g., canned, steamed, boiled, fried, blanched and/or frozenetc.

A lettuce plant designated NUN 06075 LTL, a progeny thereof, a derivedvariety thereof (such as EDV), and parts of the afore-mentionedplants/varieties can be suitably packed for, e.g., transport, and/orsold fresh. Such parts encompass any cells, tissues and organsobtainable from the seedlings or plants, such as but not limited to:heads, cuttings, pollen, leaves, parts of leaves, and the like. Headsand leaves may be harvested immature, as baby-leaf, or mature. A plant,plants or parts thereof may be packed in a container (e.g., bags,cartons, cans, etc.) alone or together with other plants or materials.Parts can be stored and/or processed further. Encompassed are thereforealso food or feed products comprising one or more of such parts, suchleaves or parts thereof obtainable from NUN 06075 LTL plant, a progenythereof a derived variety thereof (such as EDV), and parts of theafore-mentioned plants/varieties.

For example, containers such as cans, boxes, crates, bags, cartons,Modified Atmosphere Packagings, films (e.g. biodegradable films), etc.comprising plant parts of plants (fresh and/or processed) designated NUN06075 LTL are also provided herein.

Color

The color of a plant in accordance with the present invention can bedetermined by comparing the color of, e.g., fourth or mature leaves withfourth or mature leaves of a SUNBELT plant grown under the sameconditions. The skilled person can, e.g., use a RHS colour chart: 2007as described herein.

Deposit Information

A total of 2500 seeds of the variety NUN 06075 LTL (also called “NUN06075 LTL”) are deposited by Nunhems B.V. on ______, at the AmericanType Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas,Va. 20110-2209 USA and/or at the NCIMB Ltd., Ferguson Building,Craibstone Estate, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9YA, United Kingdom (NCIMB).The deposit has been assigned Accession Number PTA ______ or NCIMB______. A deposit of NUN 06075 LTL and of the male and female parentline is also maintained at Nunhems B.V. Access to the deposit will beavailable during the pendency of this application to persons determinedby the Director of the U.S. Patent Office to be entitled thereto uponrequest. Subject to 37 C.F.R. §1.808(b), all restrictions imposed by thedepositor on the availability to the public of the deposited materialwill be irrevocably removed upon the granting of the patent. The depositwill be maintained for a period of 30 years, or 5 years after the mostrecent request or for the enforceable life of the patent whichever islonger, and will be replaced if it ever becomes nonviable during thatperiod. Applicant does not waive any rights granted under this patent onthis application or under the Plant Variety Protection Act (7 USC 2321et seq.).

Various modifications and variations of the described products andmethods of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Althoughthe invention has been described in connection with specific preferredembodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimedshould not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed,various modifications of the described modes for carrying out theinvention which are obvious to those skilled in plant breeding,chemistry, biology or related fields are intended to be within the scopeof the following claims.

EXAMPLES Development of NUN 06075 LTL

The variety NUN 06075 LTL was developed from an initial cross between alettuce variety and a breeding line. The female and male parents werecrossed to produce hybrid (F₁) seeds. After the cross, F1 plants wereself-pollinated. From the second to the fifth generation pedigreeselection was performed. From the sixth to the ninth generation lineselection was performed.

Variety NUN 06075 LTL has been observed for at least three generationsin different trials on different locations and during seed increase andis uniform and stable.

The variety is, therefore, uniform and genetically stable. This has beenestablished through evaluation of horticultural characteristics.Independent seed production events resulted in no observable deviationin genetic stability.

The seeds of NUN 06075 LTL can be grown to produce plants and partsthereof (e.g. heads or leaves). The variety NUN 06075 LTL can bepropagated by seeds or vegetative propagation.

NUN 06075 LTL characteristics were compared with those of SUNBELT andGREEN TOWERS according to standards of the U.S. Department ofAgriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, Science and Technology,Plant Variety Protection Office, Beltsville, Md. 20705. The trials werecarried out by Nunhems USA Inc. in Salinas (USA), Planting date: Mar. 9,2011, duration 90 days; in King City (USA), planting date Apr. 13, 2011,duration 68 days; in Hollister (USA), planting date Jul. 26, 2011,duration 79 days; in Yuma (USA), planting date Nov. 15, 2011. Seeds ofNUN 06075 LTL are adapted for Southwest USA and West Coast (USA) on bothmineral and organic soil types. Other regions have not been tested.

Characteristics of NUN 06075 LTL

Table 1 shows the USDA descriptors of NUN 06075 LTL (this application),SUNBELT and GREEN TOWERS. 20 plants or plant parts were randomlyselected from two replications of 100 plants each. These 20 plants wereused to measure characteristics. The values are mean values.

TABLE 1 USDA NUN 06075 GREEN number USDA descriptor LTL SUNBELT TOWERS 1Plant type; 1 = Cutting/Leaf 4 4 4 2 Seed Color 2 2 1 1 = white (silvergray), 2 = black (grey brown), 3 = brown Light dormancy 1 2 1 1 = lightrequired; 2 = light not required Heat dormancy 2 1 1 1 = susceptible; 2= not susceptible 3 Cotyledon to fourth leaf stage Shape of Cotyledons 31 3 1 = broad, 2 = intermediate, 3 = spatulate Shape of fourth leaf 4 44 3 = oval, 6 = pinnately lobed Length/width index of fourth leaf (L/W *10)  24.0  19.6  17.6 Apical margin 3 3 3 1 = entire, 2 =crenate/gnawed, 3 = finely dentate, 4 = moderately dentate, 5 = coarselydentate, 6 = incised, 7 = lobed, 8 = other (undulate) Basal margin 5 4 51 = entire, 2 = crenate/gnawed, 3 = finely dentate, 4 = moderatelydentate, 5 = coarsely dentate, 6 = incised, 7 = lobed, 8 = other(undulate) Undulation 2 2 1 1 = flat, 2 = slight, 3 = medium, 4 = markedGreen color 3 4 3 1 = yellow green, 2 = light green, 3 = medium green, 4= dark green Anthocyanin: Distribution 1 1 1 1 = absent, 2 = marginonly, 3 = spotted, 4 = throughout Concentration — — — 1 = light, 2 =moderate, 3 = intense Rolling 1 1 1 1 = absent, 2 = present Cupping 1 11 1 = uncupped, 3 = markedly Reflexing 1 1 1 2 = apical margin, 3 =lateral margins 4 Mature leaves (harvest mature outer leaves): Margin:Incision depth (deepest penetration of the 1 1 1 margin) 1 =absent/shallow (Dark Green Boston), 2 = moderate (Vanguard), 3 = deep(Great Lakes 659) Indentation (finest divisions of the margin) 1 1 1 1 =entire, 2 = shallowly dentate (Great Lake 65), 3 = deeply dentate (GreatLake 659) Undulations of the apical margin 1 1 3 1 = absent/slight (DarkGreen Boston), 2 = moderate (Vanguard), 3 = strong (Great Lakes 659)Green color 3 4 3 1 = very light green, 2 = light green, 3 = mediumgreen, 4 = dark green, 6 = other Anthocyanin: Distribution 1 = absent, 3= spotted (California Cream 1 1 1 Butter), 4 = throughout (Prize Head)Concentration — — — 1 = light, 2 = moderate, 3 = intense Size 2 2 2 1 =small, 2 = medium, 3 = large Glossiness 1 2 2 1 = dull, 2 = moderate, 3= glossy Blistering 1 2 2 1 = absent/slight, 2 = moderate, 3 = strongLeaf thickness; 1 = thin, 2 = intermediate, 3 = 2 3 3 thick Trichomes; 1= absent, 2 = present 1 1 1 5 Plant Spread of frame leaves 22.6 cm 30.2cm 31.3 cm Head diameter (market trimmed with single — cm — cm — cm capleaf) Head shape 4 4 4 1 = flattened, 4 = elongate, 5 = non-heading Headsize class 2 2 3 1 = small, 2 = medium, 3 = large Head per carton — — —Head weight 535 g 589.5 g 484.5 g Head firmness 1 1 1 1 = loose, 3 =Firm, 4 = very firm 6 Butt Shape 3 3 3 1 = slightly concave, 2 = flat, 3= rounded Midrib 1 1 1 1 = Flattened, 2 = Moderately Raised, 3 =prominently raised 7 Core Diameter at base of head 28.2 mm 32 mm 32.5 mmRatio of head spread frame leaves/core   0.8   0.9   1.0 diameter Coreheight from base of head to apex 46.8 mm 49.9 mm 48.5 mm 8 Bolting(first water date:) — — — 9 Maturity (earliness of harvest-mature head90 days 94 days 88 days formation) (spring) (spring) (spring) 10Adaptation: Southwest (CA and/or AZ desert) and West Coast, otherregions not tested. Season Fall (2), 0 = not tested, 1 = not adapted, 2= adapted Winter (2), Spring (2), Summer (2) Greenhouse — — — 0 = nottested, 1 = not adapted, 2 = adapted Soil type 3 — — 1 = mineral, 2 =organic, 3 = both 11 Viral Diseases: — — — 12 Fungal/bacterial diseases:— — — 13 Insects: (not tested) 14 Physiological stresses: — — — 15 PostHarvest stress — — — — = not measured

These are typical values. Values may vary due to environment. Othervalues that are substantially equivalent are also within the scope ofthe invention.

1. A lettuce plant, designated NUN 06075 LTL, or part thereof, arepresentative sample of seeds of which having been deposited underAccession Number NCIMB ______ or PTA ______.
 2. A seed designated NUN06075 LTL, a representative sample of seeds having been deposited underAccession Number NCIMB ______ or PTA ______.
 3. A plant, or a partthereof, produced by growing the seed of claim
 2. 4. A part of the plantof claim 1, wherein the part is a head or a leaf or a part thereof.
 5. Alettuce plant, or a part thereof, which does not significantly differfrom the lettuce plant of claim 1 in any of the distinguishingcharacteristics consisting of 1) Frame leaf spread; 2) Core diameter atbase of head; 3) length/width index of fourth leaf (L/W*10); 4) greencolor of mature leaves; 5) head weight.
 6. A cell culture or tissueculture of the lettuce plant of claim
 1. 7. A lettuce plant which isregenerated from the part of the plant of claim 1 and comprisesessentially all physiological and morphological characteristics of NUN06075 LTL, a representative sample of seeds of which having beendeposited under Accession Number NCIMB ______ or PTA ______.
 8. Alettuce plant which is regenerated from the cell culture or tissueculture of claim 6 and comprises essentially all physiological andmorphological characteristics of NUN 06075 LTL, a representative sampleof seeds of which having been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB______ or PTA ______.
 9. A progeny plant of lettuce variety designatedNUN 06075 LTL a representative sample of seeds of which having beendeposited under Accession Number NCIMB ______ or PTA ______, obtained byfurther breeding with said variety, wherein said progeny plant comprisesthe distinguishing characteristics 1) Frame leaf spread; 2) Corediameter at base of head; 3) length/width index of fourth leaf (L/W*10);4) green color of mature leaves; 5) head weight of NUN 06075 LTL and/orhas essentially all physiological and morphological characteristics ofthe variety designated NUN 06075 LTL when grown under the sameenvironmental conditions.
 10. A method for producing lettuce seed,comprising crossing the plant of claim 1 or 3 with itself or a differentlettuce plant and harvesting the resulting seed.
 11. A seed produced bythe method of claim
 10. 12. A lettuce plant produced by growing the seedof claim
 11. 13. An Essentially Derived Variety of NUN 06075 LTL havingat least one, two or three physiological and/or morphologicalcharacteristics which are different from those of NUN 06075 LTL andwhich otherwise has essentially all physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of a lettuce plant designated NUN 06075 LTL, arepresentative sample of seeds of which having been deposited underAccession Number NCIMB ______ or PTA ______.
 14. An Essentially DerivedVariety of NUN 06075 LTL according to claim 13 having one or twophysiological and/or morphological characteristics which are differentfrom those of NUN 06075 LTL and which otherwise comprises thedistinguishing characteristics of NUN 09051 and/or has essentially allphysiological and morphological characteristics of a lettuce plantdesignated NUN 06075 LTL obtainable by selecting a natural or inducedmutant, or a somaclonal variant from a population of plants designatedNUN 06075 LTL; a representative sample of seeds of which having beendeposited under Accession Number NCIMB ______ or PTA ______.
 15. Apackage comprising a head, leaves or parts thereof of the plant of claim1 or claim
 3. 16. A package comprising the seed of claim
 2. 17. A seedpellet comprising the seed of claim
 2. 18. A method of producing alettuce plant, comprising crossing the plant of claim 1 or claim 3 witha second lettuce plant one or more times and/or selfing the plant ofclaim 1 or 3 one or more times, and selecting progeny from said crossingand/or selfing.
 19. A method of producing a lettuce plant derived fromNUN 06075 LTL comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a progeny plantderived from NUN 06075 LTL by crossing the plant of claim 1 with itselfor with a second lettuce plant; (b) crossing the progeny plant withitself or a second lettuce plant to produce a seed of a progeny plant ofa subsequent generation; and optionally (c) growing a progeny plant of asubsequent generation from said seed and crossing the progeny plant of asubsequent generation with itself or a second lettuce plant; andoptionally (d) repeating step b) and/or c) for at least one moregeneration to produce a lettuce plant derived from NUN 06075 LTL; arepresentative sample of seeds of NUN 06075 LTL having been depositedunder Accession Number NCIMB ______ or PTA ______.
 20. A method ofproducing a hybrid lettuce seed, comprising crossing a first parentlettuce plant with a second parent lettuce plant and harvesting theresultant hybrid lettuce seed, wherein said first parent lettuce plantor said second parent lettuce plant is a lettuce plant of claim
 1. 21. Ahybrid lettuce seed produced by crossing a first parent lettuce plantwith a second parent lettuce plant and harvesting the resultant hybridlettuce seed, wherein said first parent lettuce plant or said secondparent lettuce plant is a lettuce plant of claim
 1. 22. A method ofintroducing a single locus conversion into a lettuce plant designatedNUN 06075 LTL comprising: (a) crossing a plant designated NUN 06075 LTLwith a second plant comprising a desired single locus to produce a F₁progeny plant; (b) optionally selfing said F₁ progeny plant to produce aF₂ progeny plant having said single locus; (c) crossing said F₁ or F₂progeny plant of step (a) or step (b), respectively, with a plant of NUN06075 LTL, to produce backcross progeny plants; (d) selecting backcrossprogeny plants that have the single locus and otherwise essentially allphysiological and morphological characteristics of a plant designatedNUN 06075 LTL; and optionally (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) one ormore times in succession to produce selected second or higher backcrossprogeny plants that comprise the single locus and otherwise compriseessentially all physiological and morphological characteristics of aplant designated NUN 06075 LTL; a representative sample of seeds ofwhich having been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB ______ or PTA______.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the single locus confers atrait, wherein the trait is pest resistance or disease resistance. 24.The method of claim 22, wherein the single locus confers at least onetrait, wherein said trait is at least one trait selected from the groupconsisting of resistance against Nasonovia ribisnigri Nr: 1 or Nr: 0,downy mildew, Sclerotinia rot, Botrytis, powdery mildew, anthracnose,bottom rot, corky root rot, lettuce mosaic virus, big vein, lettuceaphid, beet western yellows and aster yellows, Sclerotinia minor (leafdrop), Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (leaf drop), Rhizoctonia solani (bottomdrop), Erysiphe cichoracearum (powdery mildew), Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. Lactucae (fusarium wilt), lettuce infectious yellows virus (LIYV),lettuce mosaic virus (LMV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Beet westernyellows virus (BWYV), Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV), nematodes andherbicides.
 25. A plant of claim 1 wherein said plant has at least theessential physiological and morphological characteristics of the varietydesignated NUN 06075 LTL and further comprises at least one transgenethat confers a desired trait.
 26. A method of determining the genotypeof the plant of claim 1 comprising obtaining a sample of nucleic acidsfrom said plant and detecting in said nucleic acids a plurality ofpolymorphisms.
 27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the stepof storing the results of detecting the plurality of polymorphisms on acomputer readable medium.
 28. A plant obtained by the method of claim18.